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End of the line for iOS 18 updates?

I was unclear from online articles whether 18.7.3 was covered (since the newer iPhones can’t upgrade to 18.7.4+ because of Apple). I ultimately decided in light of the DarkSword stuff to just go ahead and update to iOS 26 (also started using lockdown mode on some devices and testing it out on an old iPhone). Really the only feature I would miss is shared albums, but I’ve toggled lockdown mode on and off on one device, and the shared albums returned.**

Would have preferred Apple let all iOS 18 compatible devices keep chugging on with security updates, but hopefully iOS 26 doesn’t give my newer iPhone too much trouble. Will report back if so
 
I use Lockdown Mode too.
Another defensive measure would be to turn on Developer Mode.
"During the reverse engineering of Predator spyware, we uncovered something significant: nation-state surveillance tools actively detect Developer Mode and refuse to execute when it's enabled. The malware interprets this setting as a sign that the device belongs to a security researcher or someone analyzing their device, which is an environment malware is specifically designed to avoid."
https://www.jamf.com/blog/how-developer-mode-stops-ios-spyware/
Enabling Developer Mode on a device
https://developer.apple.com/documentation/xcode/enabling-developer-mode-on-a-device
About Lockdown Mode
https://support.apple.com/en-us/105120
 
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neurophysicist said:
I was unclear from online articles whether 18.7.3 was covered (since the newer iPhones can’t upgrade to 18.7.4+ because of Apple). I ultimately decided in light of the DarkSword stuff to just go ahead and update to iOS 26 (also started using lockdown mode on some devices and testing it out on an old iPhone). Really the only feature I would miss is shared albums, but I’ve toggled lockdown mode on and off on one device, and the shared albums returned.**

Would have preferred Apple let all iOS 18 compatible devices keep chugging on with security updates, but hopefully iOS 26 doesn’t give my newer iPhone too much trouble. Will report back if so
Click to expand...
Unfortunately my very short experience since this post with iOS 26 has been negative (significantly increased lag, issues where the keyboard will or won’t appear accordingly, etc). I know there’s no shortage of posts complaining about iOS 26, but just adding my anecdote as someone who installed on a 16 that’s barely 6-7 months old; and only updated because Apple refuses to allow iOS 26 compatible devices to keep getting iOS 18 security updates. Honestly makes me wish there was some Linux like option out there (I’ve had new life on old intel Mac’s by installing Ubuntu on them) where I could just continue on with security updates.

Anyway, hope any of you that have to upgrade have a better experience than me!
 
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neurophysicist said:
Unfortunately my very short experience since this post with iOS 26 has been negative (significantly increased lag, issues where the keyboard will or won’t appear accordingly, etc). I know there’s no shortage of posts complaining about iOS 26, but just adding my anecdote as someone who installed on a 16 that’s barely 6-7 months old; and only updated because Apple refuses to allow iOS 26 compatible devices to keep getting iOS 18 security updates. Honestly makes me wish there was some Linux like option out there (I’ve had new life on old intel Mac’s by installing Ubuntu on them) where I could just continue on with security updates.

Anyway, hope any of you that have to upgrade have a better experience than me!
Click to expand...
In case anyone missed it, some good news:
www.macrumors.com

Apple Issues Rare iOS 18 Security Update to Protect Against DarkSword Exploit

Apple today released a new build of iOS 18.7.7 and iPadOS 18.7.7, presumably with a fix for the DarkSword exploit. Apple told Wired that it would release an iOS 18 update for more devices, allowing users with auto-update turned on to receive the security update. iOS 18.7.7 was initially limited...
www.macrumors.com www.macrumors.com

It Would have been nice if Apple was a bit more transparent about whether it planned to make the darksword updates available for newer iOS 18 machines, but this is Apple. I definitely wouldn’t have upgraded to 26 if I knew the above was being released
 
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neurophysicist said:
In case anyone missed it, some good news:
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/04/01/apple-ios-18-darksword-security-update/

It Would have been nice if Apple was a bit more transparent about whether it planned to make the darksword updates available for newer iOS 18 machines, but this is Apple. I definitely wouldn’t have upgraded to 26 if I knew the above was being released
Click to expand...
I don’t consider that to be good news. The last official update for my iPhone SE 2 was iOS 18.7.2 released on 05 November 2025. As a joke, Apple released iOS 18.7.7 for iPhone SE 2 on 1 April 2026. Between the two dates, serious vulnerabilities in iOS have been made public. Apple has to be clear about what iOS versions receive security updates. As their website says “Keeping your software up to date is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your Apple product's security.”
 
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bogdanw said:
I don’t consider that to be good news. The last official update for my iPhone SE 2 was iOS 18.7.2 released on 05 November 2025. As a joke, Apple released iOS 18.7.7 for iPhone SE 2 on 1 April 2026. Between the two dates, serious vulnerabilities in iOS have been made public. Apple has to be clear about what iOS versions receive security updates. As their website says “Keeping your software up to date is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your Apple product's security.”
Click to expand...
Agreed, a lot more transparency is needed with regards to security updates. (It's good they finally released something, but as you pointed out, major vulnerabilities had been public for months which they left users vulnerable to). Bad experience all around
 
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My wife's SE3 running iOS18 got a new update today to 18.7.8 I think. I don't have the phone with me but it was just sent out this evening.
 
bogdanw said:
Yes, Apple has released iOS 18.7.8 for all models
"Available for: iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11 (all models), iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 12 (all models), iPhone 13 (all models), iPhone SE (3rd generation), iPhone 14 (all models), iPhone 15 (all models), iPhone 16 (all models), iPhone 16e"
https://support.apple.com/en-us/127003
Click to expand...
Thanks for this. It didn't appear with beta updates enabled, but appeared after I switched it off.
 
Hello! I am on iphone 13 pro, is it worth updating to ios 26? I am on 18.7.8? Will it lag? Whats yours experience?
 
ras113 said:
Hello! I am on iphone 13 pro, is it worth updating to ios 26? I am on 18.7.8? Will it lag? What's yours experience?
Click to expand...
Personally, I've skipped iOS 26, but plan on going with iOS 27 on my 13 mini. 26 has been a terrible mess, but 27 is looking promising. There are other considerations – and you will have your own – but with 18 being solid, I'd prefer not to step backwards.
 
How long will iOS 18.7.8 be available?

I'm on 17.7 with a 14 Pro Max, but am apprehensive to update to 18 or 26? Any advice?
 
Steven SANH said:
How long will iOS 18.7.8 be available?

I'm on 17.7 with a 14 Pro Max, but am apprehensive to update to 18 or 26? Any advice?
Click to expand...

I'm running iOS 18.7 on iPhone 11 Pro Max and I am still seeing the offer to update to iOS 18.7.8 along with iOS 26.5.2

Ideally, since iOS 18.7.9 was already released to iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max, updating to iOS 18.7.8 should be disabled already but it is still available for some reason. I'm thinking maybe once iOS 27 and iOS 26.7 are both released, updating to iOS 18.7.8 will be completely disabled.
 
Take 18.7.8 while it is still available! 👍

I was running on 17.7.2 for a long time, but app compatibility finally forced me to move on. Since I wont touch 26 with a ten foot pole, I choose the less bad option with 18. You can configure mail and photos down to nearly match the experience on 17.

18.7.8 is running mainly fine on my trusty 12 Pro - as it should, regarding its (iOS 18) age... 😉
 
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I wish I could get to 18 somehow... I am on 17.7.2 on my iPhone 12, and I am starting to notice a couple apps dropping support. Is it possible for me to go to 18? I have updates blocked completely on the phone with a profile. The Photos app is an abomination, but at least the rest is basically the same.

I cannot stand iOS 26 and 27 does not seem much better. It's not even just the glassy effects, it's the whole redesign of menus and controls to be floating with absurd shadows, and the white drop shadows/gradients at the top of the screen, plus the animations seem slower. I liked having an actual bar at the top of apps instead of things floating over each other. I actually don't hate it on macOS as much especially with Golden Gate, but no matter how hard I try I can't do it on iOS/iPadOS. The keyboard has also become harder to use for me.

I know that eventually I must move on and buy a new phone and I will be stuck with it, but I would like to enjoy this while I can.
 
retta283 said:
I wish I could get to 18 somehow... I am on 17.7.2 on my iPhone 12, and I am starting to notice a couple apps dropping support. Is it possible for me to go to 18? I have updates blocked completely on the phone with a profile. The Photos app is an abomination, but at least the rest is basically the same.

I cannot stand iOS 26 and 27 does not seem much better. It's not even just the glassy effects, it's the whole redesign of menus and controls to be floating with absurd shadows, and the white drop shadows/gradients at the top of the screen, plus the animations seem slower. I liked having an actual bar at the top of apps instead of things floating over each other. I actually don't hate it on macOS as much especially with Golden Gate, but no matter how hard I try I can't do it on iOS/iPadOS. The keyboard has also become harder to use for me.

I know that eventually I must move on and buy a new phone and I will be stuck with it, but I would like to enjoy this while I can.
Click to expand...
I think you should be able to, right? My iPad Air 5 (M1) on iPadOS 15 only offers 26, but from 17 I think you should be able to.

Can’t you check? Delete the profile and add it back again if it only offers 26?

I upgraded from my iPhone Xʀ on iOS 12 to my 16 Plus on iOS 18 and I like the Photos app, I have no issues with the redesign. I think I prefer it, actually.
 
FeliApple said:
Can’t you check? Delete the profile and add it back again if it only offers 26?
Click to expand...
I'm afraid to because they switched to a different method for the OTA update blocker, the tvOS one seems to not work anymore, and while you can block updates you get stuck with a permanent red 1 badge on Settings. I'll probably give in and try though.
 
retta283 said:
I'm afraid to because they switched to a different method for the OTA update blocker, the tvOS one seems to not work anymore, and while you can block updates you get stuck with a permanent red 1 badge on Settings. I'll probably give in and try though.
Click to expand...
I’m not blocking anything so I’m not sure how that works.

Keep us posted if you try!
 
retta283 said:
I wish I could get to 18 somehow... I am on 17.7.2 on my iPhone 12, and I am starting to notice a couple apps dropping support. Is it possible for me to go to 18? I have updates blocked completely on the phone with a profile. The Photos app is an abomination, but at least the rest is basically the same.

I cannot stand iOS 26 and 27 does not seem much better. It's not even just the glassy effects, it's the whole redesign of menus and controls to be floating with absurd shadows, and the white drop shadows/gradients at the top of the screen, plus the animations seem slower. I liked having an actual bar at the top of apps instead of things floating over each other. I actually don't hate it on macOS as much especially with Golden Gate, but no matter how hard I try I can't do it on iOS/iPadOS. The keyboard has also become harder to use for me.

I know that eventually I must move on and buy a new phone and I will be stuck with it, but I would like to enjoy this while I can.
Click to expand...
Yes, I did this a month ago on a iPhone SE 2 that was still running 17.5.1. 18.7.8 is still signed.

Go into Software Update, scroll all the way to the bottom under iOS 26, and you will see the option to update to 18.7.8
 
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I am still able to get to iOS 18 from 17.7.2 as well. I am worried about potential effects on battery life/performance but am glad the option is there. I should probably do it sooner rather than later though in the case that when 27 comes out this option is removed.
 
retta283 said:
I am still able to get to iOS 18 from 17.7.2 as well. I am worried about potential effects on battery life/performance but am glad the option is there. I should probably do it sooner rather than later though in the case that when 27 comes out this option is removed.
Click to expand...

I am surprised iOS 18.7.8 is still being signed.

When you have a device that is capable of running a newer iOS version, the newest point release of the previous iOS version is usually only signed for a couple of weeks. Then your only option is to stay on whatever version you're on (i.e. 18.7.x), or go to the newest version of iOS to continue getting updates.

Before DarkSword, 18.7.2 was the latest version you could update to on a newer device without going to iOS 26. The only other option was to go to iOS 26.

When DarkSword vulnerability happened, Apple relented and people on iOS 18.7.2 were then able to update to 18.7.7.

18.7.3 to 18.7.6 was only released for the iPhone XR and XS, because they are not compatible with iOS 26.

For what it's worth, I have several different devices on iOS 18 and they all run great. I also have some older devices still on iOS 15 (that's the end of the line for those older devices). They still receive most app updates, and 15.8.8 was only released 2 months ago.
 
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